Defending Government Buildings From Active Shooter Attacks

Earlier this week, in response to increased attacks on ICE, Greg Ellifritz posted an article on "Defending Police Departments and Government Buildings from Active Killer Attacks." He is, in particular, looking at someone shooting at the building from the outside. 

    You might not think that it applies to you, but how many of you might share an office building with a government agency or have business that takes you to government office buildings? And many of the points are applicable to any building that might come under attack from small arms fire.

    While Greg goes into each point in more detail, his major points are:

1.  Lock the doors.
2.  If the shooter is outside, do not evacuate.
3. Stay away from windows and any glass.
4. Get low.  
5. Turn out lights and close window blinds.
6. Consider moving furniture to in front of windows.
7. Consider moving to interior hallways or to higher floors.
8. Counter attack.

He also has tips for preparing for such attacks. Be sure to read the whole thing.

    While the last point--engaging in a counter attack--might seem counter-intuitive for civilians, I would note that civilians played an important role in suppressing and counter-attacking the shooter in the University of Texas Tower shooting (although that was in 1966 and we live in a different world where the police have very different attitudes toward civilians and firearms). And you also have to consider that where there is a shooting, you don't want to be the one holding a firearm when the police arrive.